Nancy Zimmerman

Everyone who knew Nancy liked her immediately. She had a magnetic personality that made people smile and she never had a negative comment about anyone. Nancy was born in December of 1958 in Tucson, AZ to Orville and Julia Dreyer.

Nancy began her piano studies at the age of 7, becoming the accompanist at First Brethren Church in Tucson. She went to her piano lessons every week and performed many recitals for family and friends. She eventually became the organist and pianist at the church while she continued her education. Her father was always quite proud to hear his little girl play.

People who knew Nancy as a professor, knew she was meticulously organized. But not so much when she was a little girl. Nancy’s older siblings, Mary and Lyle, were given the weekly task of cleaning up ‘the baby’s room.’ The job took several hours and required using a shop broom and lots of arguing.

Nancy grew up in Tucson and attended schools there, graduating from Rincon High School in 1974. She excelled academically and participated in the Choral Department under the direction of Mr. Rudy Thompson. In her senior year, the choir was invited to go to Venice and other parts of Europe to perform in various choral festivals. It was a young girl’s trip of a lifetime.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Nancy went on to also earn her master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Arizona, studying under composer Richard Faith. During summer vacations, Nancy participated in music festivals from California to New York and the Bermuda Islands. Everywhere she went, her faithful companion, Goudy (a Norwegian Elkhound), was by her side.

Nancy’s first career was teaching piano at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, while also being the accompanist at her church there. Her next stop was at Northern Michigan University, where she worked until her retirement in May of 2022. She performed many piano recitals at the NMU Reynolds Recital Hall, performed with the Marquette Symphony (piano and harp), accompanied student recitals, and every Sunday played piano and harp in her local church. She taught many private piano students over the years. Nancy’s favorite student was Sandra Seppanen, who learned to play concert harp. The two of them played together at local shopping malls at Christmas, civic events, the Reynolds Music Hall, and even a performance in Green Bay, WI.

Nancy had been in Marquette only a few years when she was ‘set up’ by friends on a blind date with a handsome young nurse and military veteran. He began attending Nancy’s piano recitals, and one thing led to another. Before long, the two were married. She learned to love farming and horses in her new home, but more than that, she loved her husband, Dave Redfern. Together they traveled, participated in local rodeos, competed in mounted pistol target shooting, and started a horse tack business. Family and friends were always welcome at their home, Harmony Farm. Dave and Nancy were a wonderful and happy couple, married 25 years until Dave’s passing.

After Dave passed away, Nancy lived alone for a few years but eventually found her way to ‘farmersonly.com.’ Through that website she met Dick Zimmerman from Tennessee. They met face-to-face for the first time at Nancy’s farm at Christmas time and were married that March at the church. They enjoyed being involved with Community Covenant Church and visiting veteran’s and local nursing homes, especially during the Christmas season when they would dress as Santa and Mrs. Clause. They enjoyed working on their farm with farm-hand and friend, Mark Slaven. In the spring, when the sap was flowing in the maple trees, weekly neighborhood pancake breakfasts were held in the barn. These breakfasts were open to all, featuring good talk, hot coffee, and the maple syrup harvested from the farm. They celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. Dick passed away on July 6, 2023.

Nancy’s last travel adventure was to “The Ark” in Kentucky in July of 2024, with her brother, Lyle, his wife, Candy, and their children and grandchildren. The twelve of them had a grand time.

Nancy is survived by her sister, Mary (David) Dreyer (Thomson) White of Massachusetts; her brother, Lyle (Candice) Dreyer of Arizona; nieces and nephew, Chynthia (John) Antinick, Adam (Maureen) Thomson, Stephanie (Will) Neese and Amanda (Daniel) Heuseveldt; great nieces and nephews, Emily Parmenter, Kinsley Thomson, Maisy Thomson, Flynn Thomson, Kevin Neese, Bryson Neese, Catherine Heuseveldt, Emmaline Heuseveldt and Anneliese Heuseveldt.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, David Redfern; and second husband, Richard “Dick” Zimmerman.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at Community Covenant Church, 588 S. Carlshend Rd, Skandia, MI 49885 on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 1 p.m. Following the service, a meal will be served. All family and friends are invited to come and share with one another their memories of our beloved Nancy.

Family and friends would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers of Trillium House, Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, and Chuck Tooman, for their excellent care of Nancy in her last days.

“The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 121

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services are assisting Nancy’s family where memories and condolences may be shared at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.